The Decade With No Name

innerSpaceman · 06-30-2009, 05:05 PM

So here we are mid-way through the penultimate year of this decade ... and as I predicted nine years ago, it has become the Decade With No Name.

Nothing has stuck. Not "The Aughts" or "The Ohs." I suppose the closest thing is the tongue-twisting ease of saying "The Two Thousands."

Not only is there no handy moniker for this numerically challenged decade, there's been no particular style or focus that I can see.

I guess it's best for there to be some distance to discern that sort of thing, but I'm getting a big picture of NOTHING - - whereas pretty much every decade until the 1990's had at least the reputation of a distinct style that immediately comes to mind when we say The 50's or The 60's. Works for the 70's and 80's, too. The 30's and 40's were less distinct and somewhat interchangeable, but the 20's were very distinct indeed.

So what happened? Turns out the characterlessness of the 90's was not the unique character of that decade. It has persisted now for 20 years to the end of the, uh, um, the Two Thousands.

Is this the end of style as we know it? Have we finally arrived at a homogenous future of blanditude?

2010 certainly won't be as futuristic as I'd hoped. But far more disturbing is the lack of identity. It's not even the dystopia of BladeRunner. It's just bleh.

BlehRunner. Our Future is Now.

Morrigoon · 06-30-2009, 05:11 PM

I imagine that a couple decades from now they/we'll be calling it "the turn of the century" just as those of us born before the millennium refer to the 1900's as turn of the century.

Or, if we wanna be unique and get it to take quicker, we could call it "the turn of the millennium", but that's even more of a mouthful, isn't it?

Chernabog · 06-30-2009, 05:18 PM

That's our Steve, the eternal optimist.

CoasterMatt · 06-30-2009, 06:28 PM

For once, I completely and totally agree with Steve.

lashbear · 06-30-2009, 06:32 PM

In Australia, it is accepted use throughout the country to refer to this decade as the "Naughties" Ye may titter, titter ye may, but everyone here is using this nomenclature (much to my secret delight)

alphabassettgrrl · 06-30-2009, 06:37 PM

I like "the Naughties" but I don't see it. I'm agreeing with Steve.

innerSpaceman · 06-30-2009, 06:45 PM

Wouldn't The Naughties have been better for the 90's?

The Roaring Twenties! The Naughty Nineties!!!

Is it a lame rhyme on The Aughties?

You couldn't say that, I suppose, down under ... because in Australian that's how "The Eighties" would sound.

Still ... I'm a little jealous. At least there's a name.

But the toilets still swirl in the wrong direction.

Not Afraid · 06-30-2009, 07:37 PM

Well, it "ought" to have a name.

alphabassettgrrl · 06-30-2009, 07:56 PM

"Naught" means "zero".

JWBear · 06-30-2009, 08:16 PM

So does "aught".

06-30-2009, 05:05 PM	#1
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	The Decade With No Name So here we are mid-way through the penultimate year of this decade ... and as I predicted nine years ago, it has become the Decade With No Name. Nothing has stuck. Not "The Aughts" or "The Ohs." I suppose the closest thing is the tongue-twisting ease of saying "The Two Thousands." Not only is there no handy moniker for this numerically challenged decade, there's been no particular style or focus that I can see. I guess it's best for there to be some distance to discern that sort of thing, but I'm getting a big picture of NOTHING - - whereas pretty much every decade until the 1990's had at least the reputation of a distinct style that immediately comes to mind when we say The 50's or The 60's. Works for the 70's and 80's, too. The 30's and 40's were less distinct and somewhat interchangeable, but the 20's were very distinct indeed. So what happened? Turns out the characterlessness of the 90's was not the unique character of that decade. It has persisted now for 20 years to the end of the, uh, um, the Two Thousands. Is this the end of style as we know it? Have we finally arrived at a homogenous future of blanditude? 2010 certainly won't be as futuristic as I'd hoped. But far more disturbing is the lack of identity. It's not even the dystopia of BladeRunner. It's just bleh. BlehRunner. Our Future is Now.
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06-30-2009, 05:11 PM	#2
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	I imagine that a couple decades from now they/we'll be calling it "the turn of the century" just as those of us born before the millennium refer to the 1900's as turn of the century. Or, if we wanna be unique and get it to take quicker, we could call it "the turn of the millennium", but that's even more of a mouthful, isn't it? __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
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06-30-2009, 05:18 PM	#3
Chernabog Biophage Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The Moon Posts: 2,679	That's our Steve, the eternal optimist. __________________ And they say back then our universe Was a coal black egg Until the god inside Burst out and from its shattered shell He made what became the world we know ~ Bjork (Cosmogony)
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06-30-2009, 06:28 PM	#4
CoasterMatt BRAAAAAAAINS! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: One Step Beyond... Posts: 8,802	For once, I completely and totally agree with Steve. __________________ Do you like my photography? Visit photosbymatt.tumblr.com to purchase prints!
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06-30-2009, 06:32 PM	#5
lashbear SwishBuckling Bear Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In Isolation :) Posts: 6,597	In Australia, it is accepted use throughout the country to refer to this decade as the "Naughties" Ye may titter, titter ye may, but everyone here is using this nomenclature (much to my secret delight) __________________ *I Heart* my Husband - I can't think of anyone I'd rather be in isolation with.**
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06-30-2009, 06:37 PM	#6
alphabassettgrrl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,978	I like "the Naughties" but I don't see it. I'm agreeing with Steve. __________________ Why cycling? Anything [sport] that had to do with a ball, I wasn't very good at. -Lance Armstrong
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06-30-2009, 06:45 PM	#7
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Wouldn't The Naughties have been better for the 90's? The Roaring Twenties! The Naughty Nineties!!! Is it a lame rhyme on The Aughties? You couldn't say that, I suppose, down under ... because in Australian that's how "The Eighties" would sound. Still ... I'm a little jealous. At least there's a name. But the toilets still swirl in the wrong direction.
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06-30-2009, 07:37 PM	#8
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Well, it "ought" to have a name.
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06-30-2009, 07:56 PM	#9
alphabassettgrrl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,978	"Naught" means "zero". __________________ Why cycling? Anything [sport] that had to do with a ball, I wasn't very good at. -Lance Armstrong
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06-30-2009, 08:16 PM	#10
JWBear Worn Romantic Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach California Posts: 8,435	So does "aught". __________________ Unrestrained frivolity will lead to the downfall of modern society.
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